Rosy, The Four-Legged Fund Raiser

2003 3rd-4th Grade Prose Winner

On 9/11 everybody was scared and worried. Although they wanted to help they didn't know what they could do. But one little girl and her dog had an idea.

The girl and her dog took two kitchen stools and a glass cookie jar, went down to the street in front of their apartment building, and asked people to help the American Red Cross by donating any money they had on hand. The dog, Rosy, asked for money too. She asked with her pleading eyes. And people gave any money they had on them.

I'm Rosy and I love my mistress. My hobbies include eating and sleeping. But after 9/11 those weren't my goals. My goals were to help my mistress raise money for a cause that was a little foggy to me. But I helped her anyhow. I didn't get to sit on the stools but I sat next to her. I didn't get rewarded but I didn't care.

Rosy is a Norfolk Terrier. She lives in the country and the city. She is one year old. She is a tawny orange color. And her eyes are dark brown. One of her ears is higher on her head than the other, and her tail is white. She is round and fat. Her disposition is loving, like a mother, and playful and humorous. I think, if she had the chance, she would be a person. That is Rosy.

Being a dog I realized that dogs respond to treats and rewards. So why don't people get rewards and treats? Isn't that right?

Not all people were generous. Some didn't give money to help the cause. Then Rosy realized that people have a sweet tooth. And she tried to tell her mistress that they should give something back to the people who donated money. The girl and her dog went back home and made cookies. The next day every person who gave money and people who wanted a cookie but didn't give money got a cookie. People told their friends and their friends told their friends about the free cookies. Then things got interesting. More people came. The girl made more cookies. And the jar began to overflow with donations.

They weren't doggy treats but they were close enough.

On their final day they knew that things would be better because they saw a rainbow in the sky over New York City. (Nobody ever sees rainbows over New York City. That's about the rarest thing you can see.) And at the end of this particular rainbow there was a pot of donations, with cookies sitting right next to them, for the American Red Cross.

The girl and her dog had a goal to make at least one thousand dollars for the American Red Cross. You know, they did. One thousand and six dollars and seventy-five cents. You also know that they didn't do it alone. The American people did it, altogether hand in hand.

I knew that my mistress did a good deed because lots of people seemed to praise her and commented on the work she did. I was proud of my mistress because she was a good citizen of New York. I considered I did a good deed myself and helped somebody, lots of somebodies. And I loved the attention, especially all the petting. Oh, that felt good!

When the girl gave the money to the American Red Cross she knew that her dog was proud. And she was proud of her dog: Rosy, the four-legged fund raiser.

Some Words of Wisdom

Tip Top Tips for Raising Money for a Good Cause:

1. Always make eye contact with the person you are trying to ask for money.
2. Put yourself in the person you are asking for money's shoes.
3. Ask the people and let them think about it.
4. Give something back to the person who is giving something to you.
5. Always have a personal touch, like making cookies and giving them out.
6. Be ready to answer questions.
7. Always smile.

Tip Top Tips for Being a Dog and Raising Money at the Same Time:

1. Wag your tail.
2. Pant and droop your eyes.
3. Walk towards the people and then sit down.
4. Tilt your head in a questioning look
5. Don't eat the treats!